Studies into interventions on risky behaviours, exercise, vaping, food, and gambling are among the topics to be explored by some of the world's leading experts at the Preventive Health Conference which runs 11 to 13 May in Brisbane.
"Our packed agenda including plenary sessions on the National Preventive Health Strategy, Australian and international experiences of COVID-19, and decolonising and disrupting whiteness in preventive health," Conference Advisory Committee Chair Associate Professor Louisa Gordon of QIMR Berghofer said.
"We'll also examine the priorities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, and investments in prevention. Australia needs to spend 5% of total health expenditure on prevention because it will save lives and is far cheaper than spending on treatments.
"Another highlight is the Douglas Gordon Oration, during which Professor Anna Peeters, who heads Deakin University's Institute for Health Transformation, will share reflections on her career path from obesity epidemiologist to healthy food retail researcher.
"It's a really impressive line-up of presentations, and I thank all in the organising committee and all of our presenters and organisers."
Conference committee member, Dr Robyn Littlewood, who is also Chief Executive of Health and Wellbeing Queensland, said: "We're eager to share our experiences in preventive health citing examples from across Queensland, as well as learning from our colleagues across Australia about their experiences and studies."
Convened as a hybrid conference by the Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA), the gathering of this year's theme is "accelerating action."
"This conference is the first chance for many of us in public health to meet in person since the pandemic upended all of our lives," PHAA CEO, Adjunct Professor Terry Slevin, said.
"We'll learn the many ways we can take meaningful actions, no matter their size nor where we work, which will add up to making a difference in preventive health.
"In a time that has felt overwhelming and unpredictable for many, it's time to focus on the things we can do, and need to do now to advance public health."
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